Chapter 5
"Percy!" someone hissed at him.
He tried to swat them away to go back to his peaceful slumber, but they wouldn't have it.
He groggily shook his head awake, noticing that Weiss was tapping his shoulder.
"Weiss-cream…"
"Ah! Mr. Jackson! Finally awake! Why were you sleeping in my class young man?"
Percy opened his eyes to see the ever so boisterous professor Port in front of him.
Truth be told, he did pay attention in every class… other than Port's. Oobleck's history lessons were so much more interesting, and Percy soaked up as much information as he could, often engaging the history professor in debates.
Port's class on the other hand…
Percy had been looking forward to it before the start of the year, until he promptly realized that the guy did nothing but tell massively exaggerated – and he meant massively exaggerated, like Nora levels of exaggeration – stories of zero relevance to Grimm studies. No one paid attention in his class anyway, and even Weiss herself could barely bring herself to pay attention. So he didn't, even if he knew he was 'setting a bad example'.
Sue him.
"Mr. Jackson! Do you have an explanation for why you are sleeping in my class?"
He was going to bullshit his way out of this… no way was he having detentions again. If there was anything Port loved, it was a good ol' story.
"Of course," Percy nodded sagely, "you see, I was tired."
"Tired is no excuse to be sleeping in my class!"
"No, no you misunderstand me, Professor Port. I hadn't explained why I was tired before the class simply because I didn't want to interrupt your legendary tale."
Port hummed in agreement, "Very well, I can respect that. Continue."
"Of course. Anyway, so I was going out for a late-night walk ya know? A late night walk around the school, but I had trailed off, and accidentally gone into the Emerald Forest!"
Percy could feel Weiss' heel grinding into his foot, as Blake also joined in, kicking him under the table.
Tch. Couldn't they appreciate his amazing story?
Percy continued, "Suddenly, hundreds upon hundreds of Grimm fell upon me! There I was, one man, surrounded by beowolves, ursai, deathstalkers, nevermores, king tajitus…"
"The odds were stacked against me. I was tired, alone, hungry, in need of sustenance, tired, and alone! And so, I pulled out my trusty Riptide, its blade glowing in the darkness. And so, like a skilled huntsman, I slashed my blade, the blood of Grimm covering me as I whirled through the masses!"
"Aye! A true huntsman indeed," Port agreed wholeheartedly. Percy's team looked at him as if he was insane or a genius.
"And with each swing of my blade, and the aid of my aura and semblance, I gained true confidence, trudging on to slay my foes and save the people! With the remains of Grimm after I had slaughtered them like sheep, I was atrociously tired. But, with every shadow, there is a light. I, fortunately, saw a Beacon at the end of the tunnel."
His teammates groaned, with only Yang grinning and giving a 'discrete' thumbs up to him. Port nodded along with his story, either not noticing, or not caring.
"I staggered, my tiredness catching up to me as the dried blood of Grimm stained my clothes. But those were the clothes of a true huntsman. As I staggered my way to the dorms, I yawned in the exhaustion I felt. But I was proud! Proud of having fended off hundreds of Grimm. I dedicated the slaughter of them to my great professor, Professor Port. One of the most esteemed professors at the prestigious Beacon! Only at my room, was I able to fall asleep in peace at 5 am. Professor Port, you inspired my heroism. I have only you to thank."
Port nodded sagely, smiling, "Mr. Jackson, you are a true huntsman indeed. So much so that you remind me of when I was younger…"
Percy had to hide a smirk as his teammates, not to mention the rest of the class, stared at him in shock, jaws hanging open.
Port loved a good story, that was for sure.
"Are you an idiot?" Weiss hissed at him as they left the class.
Percy shrugged, "No. I'm a professional story teller."
"If you mean professional bullshitter, then sure."
Yang snorted in amusement, as Weiss' eye twitched, "Language!"
She 'discreetly' gestured to Ruby, who only gave Weiss an offended look.
"I'm fifteen! Not ten!"
"Well you certainly don't show it."
Yang, Blake, and Percy shared a look as the two of them dissolved into bickering again.
"And don't think I didn't see you copying Percy's homework!" Weiss snarked, "If you'd just listened in class and paid attention like the rest of us, you wouldn't have to."
"But Percy gave me it and said I could!" Ruby argued, her silver eyes wide.
Percy knew he would have melted at the sight. It was a good thing he wasn't the recipient of those wide orbs, because Weiss did not back down.
"It's dishonesty. I'm saying no."
"But he's team leader! You can't just override him!"
"I override him here."
Weiss looked back at him, pale blue orbs glaring at him and daring him to object, all the while promising pain if he did. He gulped slightly and raised his hands. No one wanted to deal with an angry Weiss Schnee.
"And he agrees. It was a study lesson Ruby, not you copying homework and just skimming over his notes before running off to eat cookies and play videogames with your sister. This is school. You're here to learn," Weiss stated firmly.
"B-But it was just history… like one of the least important classes. Other than Grimm studies. It's not that important! We're here to learn to fight to protect the people, not toil away at books like some old scholars. I tried to listen! I really did. But Doctor Oobleck spoke like, at a thousand words per minute! No one got anything down for their notes except Percy!"
"In which case," Weiss narrowed her eyes, a stern expression set on her face, "you should have gone to the library to research it yourself, or used the school's computers, or your scroll. Not leech off other's hard work. You have to work to improve, and Percy, being the generous leader he is, has already offered you study sessions. He's helping you catch up on the two years you missed at Signal. And history is important! How else are you going to avoid the mistakes of the past?"
"It was just some homework…"
Ruby's lower lip trembled at being told off, and Percy stepped in, comforting her. She latched onto him like he was a lifeline, burying her face into his chest.
He sighed, "Weiss… you can be a little hard on her sometimes."
"I know. I didn't mean to."
That was as far as an apology as she was going to give.
"Though, you weren't necessarily wrong… you just laid it on a little thick. Ruby's trying her hardest to keep up with the material, and she's doing relatively well, especially when you consider that she missed two years."
He was answered with silence, with Weiss looking down at the floor like a chastised student.
"You didn't do too badly," her head snapped up like a rubber band as pale blue orbs gazed into his hopefully, "I don't dislike how you handled it, but I get where you're coming from. Ruby needs to do her own homework, and sometimes laying it on thick is the only way to get it through her stubborn skull."
They shared a chuckle at that, while an indignant sound came from his chest.
"I'm still here!"
"You're too flawless."
Percy tapped her leg with his sword, causing her to shift a little and correcting her stance. Well, it wasn't correct anymore. It was… wrong. Pyrrha frowned.
"Isn't this stance wrong?"
"It's not wrong," he corrected, "it's unorthodox."
"What does that mean?"
"Your stance is too rigid, too… taut. Like Weiss, you had tutors that told you every perfect counter."
"Flawlessness is perfection. But perfection isn't always good. You fight too perfectly. Tell me Pyrrha," he said, "what would your response be if I feinted left, then came for a high swing over head?"
"I would step into your guard," she said immediately. After all, it was the most basic, tried and true counter to anyone hoisting their weapon like a massive battle axe.
"And that makes you predictable. I know you're going to do that. You're going to do that every time, because that is what you have been taught, and that is the most optimal counter."
"I know your next move after baiting you, so all I have to do is to counter your counter. I could bring the pommel down on your head by just angling it slightly, I could knee you in the stomach to create space, I could tank it with my aura and slash you anyway. Most people don't do the third. But the point is, you're fighting too perfectly for your style of sword. Fighting is a dance, but not just one dance you can practice over and over. It's an adaptable dance."
Pyrrha was still confused.
"You want me to make mistakes… on purpose?"
"It's only a mistake if you didn't intend it. Not mistakes. Artful deviations, calculated missteps to throw off your opponent. Fight imperfectly. Try new things, bold things. Unorthodox things. Embrace the fantastical. Battle is an artform. Like any great artist, you need to embrace ingenuity, creativity. With new ideas. You've never done so because you've been taught that a perfect counter is always the move, and you've never lost on that principle."
"Until you came along," Pyrrha said, deep in thought.
Percy was many things. A warrior, for sure, but one that was cunning, tactical, with a bag full of tricks that was so deep she doubted she'd ever see all of them. A scholar, except in Port's class. He cared for her, not for her name or her prowess, but her as a person in the way that no one had. He was a friend… and maybe something more. And he was unorthodox, in many ways. During training, he was cold. Ruthless and efficient with his conditioning, and Pyrrha had to admit it yielded results. He was like their personal trainer, taking both teams out for team spars, even if he didn't have to take her team out too. He was all too willing to help them get better. That was just him, caring for not only his team, but also hers just because they were all close friends. Others would have kept team secrets in team spars. Not him, however.
"Another spar, first to land a hit. And please, be so bold as to fight me imperfectly," he grinned, twirling his blade in one hand and taking a stance.
Pyrrha took her position, Miló in her right hand and Akoúo̱ in her left.
Dare to fight him imperfectly? It went against every drill her tutors had ever taught her, to be flawless. Invincible. The Invincible Girl. And to win, she had to be… not invincible? It didn't make any sense. He was telling her that her invincibility made her predictable.
It felt wrong in so many ways, and yet, somewhere deep down, despite all her objection to the idea of fighting imperfectly, Pyrrha wondered whether Percy had a point.
Dare to be imperfect.
"Ready?" Percy called out with a grin.
She nodded, and he smiled.
"Dazzle me."
She dashed across the field at full speed, but he slipped away. Riptide came out in a hiss, and he became a whirlwind of deadly metal.
The blade blurred, and Pyrrha tanked behind her shield, giving ground.
What was she supposed to do?
Riptide almost sneaked by her defenses, but she managed to bat it away with Miló, keeping it at bay. It came down on her shield with force, and Pyrrha grit her teeth as she felt bones in her shoulder creak at the force.
Her muscles protested, but she held it for a few more hits. She rolled away, setting up Miló as a rifle and firing.
As predicted, Percy shielded it with a ward shield, but then Pyrrha did something certifiably stupid.
She swung her shield like a frisbee into the air above Percy as it climbed to dizzying heights, and willed it to change direction and slam downwards.
He hadn't noticed her use her semblance, and he sketched a ward, blowing her back.
Her back slammed against a tree painfully as he staggered forward. Even through the pain, she couldn't help but smile.
Percy staggered forwards and sat next to her.
"Cute trick," he grumbled.
Pyrrha couldn't help but smile, her lips twitching upwards.
"Cute enough to beat you, even."
He shook his head, unable to keep the grin from his face.
"Regardless, you left yourself open," he chided gently, "although it did surprise me. You used your semblance, but control over your shield was still weak at best."
She opened her mouth to speak, but he beat her to it, "Still. You surprised me. That was the assignment. You succeeded, even if we did draw."
He smiled at her handsomely and winked stupidly, and Pyrrha felt blood rushing to her cheeks. That stupid idiot.
"Another one?" she challenged, feeling confident.
"Heh. You're on."
Weiss was reading in the library when her scroll rang.
She sighed, putting down the book on hand-to-hand combat. Percy had blatantly pointed out the weakness she had, along with Ruby. Both of them were next to useless if disarmed, which she had to admit, was true. She'd always relied on Myrtenaster to make glyphs and make use of dust. Perhaps it was time for her to start expanding her horizons a bit.
"Percy?"
"It's Ruby. It's nearly eleven, and she hasn't come back yet. I already have Blake and Yang searching for her. Is she with you?"
"No, I'm in the library. I haven't seen her. I'll look for her as well."
"Thanks Weiss."
He hung up a moment later, and she tucked it into her combat skirt. Now, where could Ruby be?
Not the dormitories for sure. The kitchen? She loved her cookies.
But they probably weren't open late at night, and Ruby wasn't the type of person to break in.
The training grounds? The Emerald Forest? Probably not, since she most likely would have dragged one of them with her.
The garden? The farm? Unlikely was the understatement of the century.
The library? Perhaps.
Weiss filed her book into the shelf, mentally taking a note of where it was.
She checked each aisle slowly, before noticing Ruby in the corner. She was impossible to miss, her red hood sticking out like a sore thumb in the library. She was hunched over the desk, snoring lightly.
Three textbooks surrounded her on the table, as well as a notebook. She had been studying hard…
Was this because of her? Had she done all of this because of her?
We had a rather massive argument hours ago, she thought, looking at the numerous books on history that were strewn across the table. Ruby must have run straight here and started studying. This was material that she would have learned in her last two years at Signal, Weiss realized. Perhaps she was being too harsh on her, like Percy had suggested. Guilt pooled in her stomach, Weiss realizing she had pushed her too far.
Weiss sighed, tapping her lightly on the shoulder.
It didn't work, of course. She nudged her several times, but Ruby still only mumbled something.
"C-Cookies…"
An uncharacteristic giggle escaped her lips, "You can have some tomorrow. Heaven forbid anyone stop you from getting your cookies. I'll have Percy make your favorite cookies, his very special blend of cookies that you love so much."
"P-Percy…"
"Aww…" someone cooed from behind her.
Weiss had an immediate suspect.
"Look at my baby sister, all grown up. Already muttering a man's name in her sleep."
Weiss turned to see Yang with a shit-eating grin on her face and an exasperated Blake beside her. Percy came not a moment later.
Weiss tried lifting her, but she was just too heavy.
Percy shook his head in exasperation at Ruby, placing his hands under her legs and shoulders. He hoisted her with ease, her head falling against his chest with a muffled and content snore.
"I've got her. We'd probably drop her if we tried to carry her."
Yang suddenly grinned conspiratorially, as Weiss only shared a look with Blake that said, she's about to do something again.
Yang snapped a photo with her scroll, despite Percy looking utterly confused.
"Perfect blackmail," she whispered to herself, as Blake rolled her eyes.
"Mmm…" Ruby agreed, "Cookies… Percy's cookies…"
Her lips latched onto his neck as she made an appreciative sound.
Percy groaned in humiliation as Yang took another photo.
She was going to have a field day with this, Weiss knew it.
Yang was having the best day of her life. It was an absolute field day for her.
"So," she leaned in, smirking at Ruby's red face, "you basically fell asleep in his arms and gave him a hickey? "
"Yang!" Ruby tried to glare at her, but it only made her cuter.
"Awww… my little sister's all grown up! She's already claimed her man!"
"Yang…" Ruby growled not-so-threateningly, "It wasn't that!"
"Oh, I'm sure it was," she smirked deviously.
"No, no, no!" Ruby waved her arms frantically, drawing the attention of other tables in the cafeteria.
Weiss leaned in, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "Ehh… I'm not so sure Ruby. I mean you were mumbling his name in your sleep…"
Ruby's face resembled a bucket of paint, and she hid her face behind the nearest person she could find.
Yang couldn't stop her grin as Ruby realized it was Percy's back that she was pressing her face into, and leapt backwards with an 'eep'.
Percy groaned as their entire table burst into laughter.
"Look at how red the hickey is too… my, my, my, I never expected Ruby to be so possessive."
Ruby squawked again, her voice rising higher in pitch as Yang made it her mission to keep teasing her sister. This was just too good.
"B-Blake," she stammered, looking anywhere for support, "tell them it's not true…"
Blake leaned in with a faux thoughtful look on her face, "I mean you kept muttering his name in your sleep, and you gave him a hickey while in his arms…"
"So it is true!" Nora crowed, as Ren, Jaune, and Percy could only share their exasperation.
"Ren, what do you think? Do you have an opinion? What about you Jaune?"
"No comment," they echoed each other.
Damn pussies probably thought it was better to play it safe.
"I mean, he tucked her into bed without even a good night's kiss," Weiss said, smirking, "She seemed pretty disappointed."
"Weiss!" Ruby whined, "Pyrrha, please help-"
The redhead in question was politely looking away, her smile hidden behind a hand as her shoulders rose and fell, "Y-Yes Ruby… I think it was v-very cute, snrk… pff…"
Ruby's face fell into her hands, as Yang patted her shoulder condescendingly.
"It's official. My team sucks."
"We suck?" Percy objected, "I mean you're the one who sucked on my neck."
Ruby looked like she wanted to pass out to escape the humiliation as the two teams cackled in laughter.
"I think Percy, Jaune, and I need a guys' night out."
Yang had to admit that was probably for the best.
"And why is that, Renny? Do you think that us five ladies are too much to handle?" Nora crowed, looking a little… murderous would be the right word.
The three of them shied away from the scary woman, as Jaune gathered the courage to speak, "Guy time! Y'know… heh."
His nervous laughter dissolved as Nora edged closer to him, and Jaune leaned away.
"So you're trying to steal my Renny away from me?"
"Uh-"
"No one steals my Renny!" Nora glared at a sweating Jaune. Yang had to muffle a laugh, as Jaune looked for help in the form of Ren or Percy, both of whom were pointedly looking away.
"W-Wait! This is all a big misunderstanding! I'm not trying to steal Ren!" Jaune managed to get out, while Nora leaned back, her fingers tapping her chin.
"Nope, not falling for your lies. I won't let you steal my Renny!"
"Percy! Ren! Help!" Jaune looked around wildly before realizing that the two had already left.
"Traitors!"
Yang snickered as Jaune suddenly looked very, very, nervous.
Nora was cracking her knuckles.
AN: I just wanted to address the issue of Percy's team being a five man team, since everyone wants to point that out. I have already written chapters that get past this for the Vytal Festival, so I'm aware that if I were to have all five fight in the Vytal Festival, it would be unfair.
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